I’ll admit something: I’m not a big fan of football practices. They tend to be a bit dull for my taste. I’d much rather spend my time doing other things than watching players go through drills.
Back when I was a sportswriter, attending practices was just part of the job. But once I moved into a columnist role, I happily left that duty behind.
Don’t get me wrong, I love football. But there’s something about watching players run drills without any real competition that doesn’t quite excite me.
So, you can imagine my surprise when I heard that Ohio State is now asking fans to fork over $50 to attend a preseason practice. Yes, you heard that right: they want fans to pay to watch practice.
And what do fans get for their $50? A pair of Ohio State sunglasses. Essentially, they’re paying for a fashion accessory.
I’m not exactly shocked by this move. With changes in revenue sharing looming in college athletics, departments are scrambling to find new ways to make money. And what better way than to reach into the pockets of loyal fans?
Sure, there will probably be plenty of diehard fans willing to pay up. But personally, I think there are better ways to spend that kind of money.
For example, tickets to Ohio State’s nonconference games cost less than $50 each. In my opinion, investing in tickets for real football action is a much better use of your money than paying to watch practice drills.
After all, game tickets might not come with sunglasses, but they offer the thrill of live football – without the boredom of watching practice.